Dr JOHN, The Night Tripper - The Sun Moon and Herbs 1971

Dr JOHN, The Night Tripper - The Sun Moon and Herbs 1971
K40250

Blues

This classic recording sees Dr John's transformation into the persona of the Night Tripper fully complete. Richly textured and sumptuous, this is a Album that must be owned.
Opening with Black John The Conqueror, wait for the thrill as the gospel-like tones of the backing singers and stabs of the brass lay down the framework for this recording. Where Ya At Mule follows and is perhaps the only weak point. A little light. A touch too whimsical. Fear not, for Craney Crow takes us firmly back into Night Tripper territory with its fusion of jazz, psychedelia and pseudo-Southern black magic. We are then propelled into Familiar Reality, and for me, one of the best intros ever. Something to enjoy. Again and again.

File Gumbo seamlessly picks up where Familiar Reality left off, before we journey into the loose jazz of Who I Got To Fall On (If The Pot Get Heavy) only to be transported back into Night Tripper territory and the excellent Zu Zu Mamou ... Then, just as the party seems to be over and you're left wanting more, solace can be found in the form of Familiar Reality (Reprise).

A monumental recording, in the dark days of vinyl you had to hunt this one out. On album, nothing is lost, save perhaps the sleeve notes, where small print addicts could read the guest list that reads like a celebrity call-out that includes Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger. Second, one no longer has the thrill of a Side One and Side Two and the excitement of turning the record over and wondering if the opening to Familiar Reality really is as good as the last time that you heard it.
By all accounts it is ... Buy. Treasure. And enjoy.
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Dr. John- Vocals, Piano, Organ, Guitar, Vibraphone, Percussion
Ray Draper- Tuba, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Roger Hopps, Wayne Jackson- Trumpet [The Memphis Horns]
Victor Brox- Trumpet [Pocket], Organ
Andrew Love , Ed Logan- Saxophone [Tenor, The Memphis Horns]
James Mitchell- Saxophone [Baritone, The Memphis Horns]
Tommy Feronne- Guitar [Rhythm]
Eric Clapton- Electric Guitar [Slide]
Freddie Staehle- Drums [Trap]
Joni Jonz , Mick Jagger , P.P. Arnold , Shirley Goodman , Tammi Lynn- Backing Vocals
**
A1. Black John The Conqueror 6:20
       Backing Vocals - Bobby Whitlock , Doris Troy
       Flute - Kenneth Terroade
       Horns - Memphis Horns, The
       Piano - Walter Davis Jr.
       Saxophone - Chris Mercer
       Saxophone [Alto] - Graham Bond
A2. Where Ya At Mule 4:55
       Backing Vocals - Bobby Whitlock , Doris Troy
       Bass [Fender] - Carl Radle
       Congas - Jim Gordon
       Horns - Memphis Horns, The
       Saxophone - Chris Mercer
       Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Keys
A3. Craney Crow 6:40
       Bass - Jesse Boyce
       Flute - Kenneth Terroade
       Other [Thanks] - Amy Lee Steiner
       Percussion - Freeman Brown
       Piano - Walter Davis Jr.
B1. Familiar Reality-Opening 5:25
       Bass Guitar - Ron Johnson
       Drums - John Boudreaux
       Organ - Ronnie Barron
       Saxophone - Jerry Jumonville
       Trumpet - Edward R. Hoerner
       Written-By - Jesse Hill , Mac Rebennack
B2. Pots On Fiyo (Filé Gumbo) / Who I Got To Fall On (If The Pot Get Heavy) 5:48
       Acoustic Bass - Steve York
       Congas - Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels
       Flute - Kenneth Terroade
       Horns [2nd Half] - Memphis Horns, The
       Percussion - Freeman Brown
       Piano - Walter Davis Jr.
       Saxophone [Alto] - Graham Bond
       Trumpet - Jim Price
B3. Zu Zu Mamou 7:57
       Acoustic Bass - Steve York
       Backing Vocals - Doris Troy
       Flute - Kenneth Terroade
       Percussion - Freeman Brown , Jesse Boyce
B4. Familiar Reality-Reprise 1:53
       Backing Vocals - Bobby Whitlock , Doris Troy
       Bass - Carl Radle
       Congas - Jim Gordon
       Saxophone - Chris Mercer
       Saxophone [Alto] - Graham Bond
       Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Keys
       Trumpet - Jim Price
       Written-By - Jesse Hill , Mac Rebennack
**
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